How To Organize A Debate - Speaking Article

By:Charlotte Buelow

As technology has evolved, so has debate formats. The CPD recommends creating a checklist to help prepare for an effective and efficient debate. Items include: budget, venue, furniture, electrical needs, printed materials, labor, security, Internet resources, audience, community interest, media, format, candidate negotiation and post-debate activities.

Before the debate may take place, the sponsor and participants must agree on the debate format. Generally, political candidates name a representative with the authority to speak for him or her. Debate organizers then handle negotiations through representatives.

Debate formats may utilize a variety of styles. Audience members ask candidates questions through the town hall meeting approach. Other styles include the panel approach and the single moderator format.

Question selection is best carried out by those who are most familiar with the popular issues. Often, journalists are chosen as they are experienced and accustomed to fulfilling the technical needs of a media setting.

Moderators and panelists should be chosen based on their level of professionalism, knowledge of the issues and their impartial nature. If a town meeting format is utilized, audience members should also be chosen based on these characteristics. Neutral organizations such as polling or research groups may be used to help identify fair-minded individuals.

When the debate content is chosen, organizers must decide if a breadth of issues will be covered, or, just a select few. If a series of debates are likely to be scheduled, organizers may decide to limit each debate to one or two significant topics.

Typical CPD debate length is 90 minutes. However, factors such as participant number, media coverage and whether or not the debate is part of a series should all be considered when establishing debate length.

Candidates are given time to deliver opening and closing statements. These prepared dialogs generally are limited to under three minutes as they detract from the time allowed for answering audience, moderator or panelist questions. Usually, time limits are set for both questions and answers as well. Typically candidates in presidential debates are allowed two minutes for answers and one minute for rebuttals.

As moderators will be occupied with a variety of tasks during the debate, a separate time-keeper is utilized. A system is then set up that will allow the timekeeper to easily communicate with the moderator who will in turn communicate with debate participants to let them know when their time limit has expired.

Debates typically garner significant community interest. Audience size and ticket distribution guidelines should be established during debate organization. Along with community involvement, debates also collect media attention. Organizers may want to consider using an invitation method to control journalist access.

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article keywords: debating, how to run a debate, political debate, party debate, forums

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Charlotte Buelow is a contributing writer for Access My Library. Best known for its authoritative reference content as well as its full-text magazine and newspaper articles, AML maintains over 600 databases that are published online, in print, as eBooks and in microform. Visit
Access My Library.

Top Speaking Articles
1). 8 Tips to improve your comunication skills By : John Khu If you often have difficulty in starting conversations and maintaining the interest of people you are speaking with, you are just a member of what is probably the largest group of humans on this planet – “nice people with less than perfect communication skills”. Your upbringing and life experiences may have made you defensive or even negative about most people that you meet.
2). How to Become a More Entertaining Speaker By : Mike Moore How to inform and entertain your audience
3). Fluent Speech And How To Achieve It By : blueboy This article is all about how to achieve fluency and looks at the specific speech impediment known as stammering/stuttering. My name is Steve Hill, I suffered with a stutter from the age of four and despite regular conventional speech therapy, continued stuttering until the age of twenty-two. I found life with a stutter extremely frustrating as at times I could speak very well.
4). How to Develop a Dynamic Story By : Barbara White Story telling is a very effective way to get your point across. Here are some tips to help you develop a dynamic powerful story. • Decide on the purpose for the story. What is the main point you want to make? Slant the telling of the story so that that point is clear. • Create the backdrop. Describe the scene so that the audience can picture it in their minds.
5). Eulogy Speeches: Use A Story To Help You Get Started By : Tom Antion So you "have" to do a eulogy speech... or maybe you "want" to get a chance to express in public all the deep feelings you have for your loved one who has passed away. Yes, I know it's a tough time to write a eulogy speech or anything else for that matter. Yes, I know you're probably distraught and having a hard time focusing. That's OK. I'm going to give you an easy tip to get going.
6). A Speaker's Lesson Learned By : Mike Moore How the set-up of the hall can impact on the quality of your presentation.
7). The Four Parts of an Academic Term Paper By : John Smith This article explains the functionality and interrelatedness of the four parts of a college term paper.
8). speaking precisely By : gmcMatch.com You can express yourself better if you learn the proper words to use for each situation. You can pick up these words by reading good books and articles. Just be careful you don't pronounce something incorrectly in your head, and then speak that way in public. People will think you're ignorant. I remember listening to a radio talk show one time when a man called in and mispronounced a word.
9). Public Speaking Tips By : Simon Oldmann Any public speaking involves delivering information to people who are, in one way or another, waiting to get some information. This is a key reason why you should pay careful attention as you prepare to make you speech and as you plan to meet your audience. Some people are naturals at public speaking and getting to audiences, you may think of politicians.
10). Three Easy Steps To Be Good In Public Speaking By : David Idle Throughout the history of human civilization, people have been expressing their confidence and strength, not only by force, but also by the noble art of public speaking. The orators of ancient Greece were highly respected and valued in the community. Likewise, today’s world leaders are admired and esteemed when they have the power to address the public with poise and conviction.

New Speaking Articles
1). Public Speaking - The Art of Speech Making By : Robin Chandler How do you speak naturally while all those people are watching you? This document covers hints and tips on public speaking, dealing with anxiety, public speaking skills and techniques and public speaking training.
2). Eight Steps to Better Public Speaking By : Robert Scheer How public speakers can overcome nervous and stage fright. How to prepare your speech beforehand. The best time to rehearse. How to psych yourself up before going onstage. How to make an audience like you.
3). Top 7 Ways to Succeed in the Business of Speaking By : Sandra Schrift Publishing Guidelines: You are welcome to publish this article in its entirety, electronically, or in print free of charge, as long as you include my full signature file for ezines, and my Web site address in hyperlink for other sites. Please send a courtesy link or email where you publish to me. Thank you. ______________________________________________ Top.
4). Public Speaking Fear? You Should Be Afraid By : Paul Evans Like most pubic speaking consultants, I usually hammer all the reasons a person should not be afraid of presenting. However, the more coaching I do, the more I realize the fear is legit. People should be afraid of getting in front of a group. While there is a lot to gain from speaking publicly, there is also a lot to lose. Here are seven reasons to be scared… Number One: No skill.
5). Top 7 Steps to Better Public Speaking By : Sandra Schrift Publishing Guidelines: You are welcome to publish this article in its entirety, electronically, or in print free of charge, as long as you include my full signature file for ezines, and my Web site address in hyperlink for other sites. Please send a courtesy link or email me where you publish. Thank you. ___________________________________________________________ TITLE: Top 7 Steps to Better Public Speaking AUTHOR: Sandra Schrift COPYRIGHT: ©2006 by Sandra Schrift.
6). Argumentation: Turn It from Adversarial to Educational By : Jonathan Steele Argumentation is usually associated with debate. Using argumentation in public speaking does not require being adversarial. To use it effectively can enhance the experience for the listener. Your first thought might be to avoid it, especially when trying to persuade. The kind of argument being discussed here is not bickering or being obnoxious or even debate.
7). Public Speaking - The Key Is In The Body Language. The 8 Stages To A Successful Presentation By : Pearl Deloria Most people have a fear of speaking to a large group. This is a totally normal apprehension. People may visualise the audience laughing at them, or shouting out. This is an extremely rare occurrence, unless you are a politician. Most people listening to you are aware of the pressures you are under and would never change places with you. These guidelines will help you to overcome your fears.
8). Public Speaking Tips By : Simon Oldmann Any public speaking involves delivering information to people who are, in one way or another, waiting to get some information. This is a key reason why you should pay careful attention as you prepare to make you speech and as you plan to meet your audience. Some people are naturals at public speaking and getting to audiences, you may think of politicians.
9). Public Speaking, Why All The Fuss? By : Tomas Morkenson When asked, the majority of people in the US would claim that there greatest fear is getting up in front of a crowd and giving a speech. People 100 years ago would not say that public speaking was their worst fear, but they had more threatening things to worry about right? I’m talking about things like war, and wild animals, and rampant crime without great law enforcement.
10). A world of presentations without PowerPoint By : thomsonchemmanoor Most of the presentations made nowadays are made with the help of PowerPoint. There are also class teachers and lecturers who use PowerPoint to make the teaching and learning process more interesting. However, it is the professional who makes presentations without the use of PowerPoint, while following some of their age-old beliefs for presentations.